Is a relaxer "once in a while" so bad? What's your thought?

[Smiley79]

I stumbled on the Sylvers2 thread and still see it's on and popping with lots or great healthy hair photos in there too. It got me wondering, is a relaxer that bad if used moderately, applied properly, and if your skin or scalp have no allergic or adverse reactions to it. What do you think?

Reason I ask is that I am full natural but I hate the idea of heat on my hair to achieve the styles that I enjoy...I would hate to become a natural that has to BC again due to heat damage, so Im wondering if a relaxer 3 or 4 times a year is "so bad"? Like I said, applied properly, hair and scalp cared for, and considering I have no allerigies or adverse reactions to it. And Im talking from the standpoint of the health of the hair not a preferance; I know I can do "whatever I want", but I was just curious if anyone has ever shared these feelings.

 

[GIJane]

I believe that it depends on ones hair. Some people cannot stretched for long periods of time. As long as the relaxer is "applied properly, hair and scalp cared for, and considering you have no allerigies or adverse reactions to it" then go for it. If you hair doesn't like it it will tell long before you reach that point of extreme damage. I would say listen to your hair. For me I have no choice but to stretch my relaxers. As I just don't trust the water here to relax my hair. I also am going thru a lot of stress. So I will just wait until I am comfortably in the right frame of mind to deal with my hair. Who know I might actually go natural.

 

[Dposh167]

but relaxing 3 or 4x a year is a low number. what made u think that was too much

 

[PersuasiveBeauty]

but relaxing 3 or 4x a year is a low number. what made u think that was too much

I don't believe that she is stating that it is too much. I believe early on in her post she stated that relaxing "moderately" would not be such a negative thing. 3-4 times a year in her opinion is a moderate number...Not too much.

 

[Britt]

I say go for it if u want straighter hair and more importantly if ur hair can handle stretching. U can also texlax if u want to. If ur hair def can handle being stretched for 16wks or more thats not bad at all, and make sure u find a good stylist to apply ur relaxer.

 

[Smiley79]

but relaxing 3 or 4x a year is a low number. what made u think that was too much

I dont think that's too much...I've never been a long term stretcher. when I was relaxed I was an every 6-8 weeker like normal. I was thinking if I do choose to go back to relaxed, I would opt for only 4 times a year max.

 

[Smiley79]

Brittster I need to look into the texlax thing. I thought texturizers were relaxers so I always skipped over that idea.

Being natural has been alright for me, nothing spectacular, but I dont like the whole pressing and straightening and the hair not reverting back to its old curly state. Oh well, lots to think about.

 

[southerncitygirl]

every head of head is different i used go 4-5 months in btw touchups with no issues. watch your hair carefully. i agree with brittster about texlaxing as a possible option...that way your hair won't be bone straight and it will have some texture. you could wear it curly with as well.

 

[Fyne]

I believe that it depends on ones hair. Some people cannot stretched for long periods of time. As long as the relaxer is "applied properly, hair and scalp cared for, and considering you have no allerigies or adverse reactions to it" then go for it. If you hair doesn't like it it will tell long before you reach that point of extreme damage. I would say listen to your hair. For me I have no choice but to stretch my relaxers. As I just don't trust the water here to relax my hair. I also am going thru a lot of stress. So I will just wait until I am comfortably in the right frame of mind to deal with my hair. Who know I might actually go natural.

I agree with what works for some doesn't for others and maintaining a healthy head of hair. Stretching for long periods personally helps me retain and makes my hair more healthy.

 

[pre_medicalrulz]

Despite what people hear, RELAXERS ARE NOT THE DEVIL. LOL!

My hair thrives with relaxers. No harm no foul. Now my mother's hair cannot take a relaxer and yet she continues to relax. I tell her time and time again, "your hair does not like this stuff and you should think about going natural." Same thing goes for everyone else. If you hair takes off with a relaxer than it does when you try to go natural, then a relaxer you should keep. If your hair is so much better off being natural, then a natural you should stay.

It just depends on the individual's hair.

 

[sylver2]

Brittster I need to look into the texlax thing. I thought texturizers were relaxers so I always skipped over that idea.

Being natural has been alright for me, nothing spectacular, but I dont like the whole pressing and straightening and the hair not reverting back to its old curly state. Oh well, lots to think about.

being texlaxed is relaxed. its just leaving the relaxer on for a shorter amount of time and not as much smoothing but ..still relaxed.
i relax to get my hair bone straight. i touchup twice a year.

 

[*CherryPie*]

I don't think there's anything wrong with relaxers, as long as your scalp can handle it.

My edges couldn't handle it, but the rest of my hair grew very well. I know that I can't go back to relaxers, and I hate that I don't have that option. So, it's really good that I love my natural hair.

Op, there's no reason you should struggle with hair. If relaxing will make you happier with your hair, then I say do it!

 

[Smiley79]

Cherrypie: Thank you girlie. so true what you said.

 

[Smiley79]

Despite what people hear, RELAXERS ARE NOT THE DEVIL. LOL!

My hair thrives with relaxers. No harm no foul. Now my mother's hair cannot take a relaxer and yet she continues to relax. I tell her time and time again, "your hair does not like this stuff and you should think about going natural." Same thing goes for everyone else. If you hair takes off with a relaxer than it does when you try to go natural, then a relaxer you should keep. If your hair is so much better off being natural, then a natural you should stay.

It just depends on the individual's hair.

Thanks, great points.

 

[lilpooky]

is a relaxer that bad if used moderately, applied properly, and if your skin or scalp have no allergic or adverse reactions to it.

No. I relax 3-4 times a year and my hair is doing fine. I agree with the other ladies though that what works for one doesn't work for all and with suggestions that you can texlax so that way your hair won't be bone straight. Just make sure you make the right decision for yourself so that you won't regret it later on.

 

[DDTexlaxed]

If you want to wear your hair strait most of the times, it is a great idea to relax IMHO. Relaxers aren't evil unless misapplied or you have scalp issues. You have to do what makes life easier for you.

 

[sunnieb]

I love relaxers AND my hair has never been this healthy and long in my life!

Go for it!

I'm on track to relax 4x this year.

 

[topnotch1010]

If you want to wear your hair strait most of the times, it is a great idea to relax IMHO. Relaxers aren't evil unless misapplied or you have scalp issues. You have to do what makes life easier for you.

I concur.........................

 

[Aggie]

I agree with most of the posts here so far. First you have to know how much your own hair can handle. For example, I have been natural, then bone-laxed, then natural again, now I am texlaxed (ie, mildly relaxed) and to be honest with you, I REALLY being texlaxed more than them all.

My hair still has some wonderful texture in it as you can see in my siggy, but it is still quite manageable because the curls are only slightly looser.

I wouldn't mind it being a little looser than it is in my siggy but you know I found a great place in my regimen for mildly texlaxed hair and love it so I'm not about to fix what's not broken, imo.

Stretching has been wonderful for me too. I texlax every 4 months now but tempted to stretch 6 months again. I will see how my hair responds 1 week at a time before I take the plunge and this is advice I would give you.

Watch your hair closely, see how well it responds to stretching and only relax/texlax at the point it starts to act out, ie demarcation breakage no matter what treatment you give to it.

I try to have a minimum time for stretching but if my hair acts up before that schedule matures, I don't care, I just go ahead and texlax now to avoid losing my hair, ya know .

All the best hun!

 

[317537]

I relax roughly 3X per year. I touch up roots with flat iron after about 10 weeks post relaxer until I get tired of it n relax. I'm lazy n hate relaxing cause I do it myself but no one besides my mother has ever put relaxer on my head. I'm WL and haven't seen any ill effects from this system. To each her own, though. HTH!

 

[Britt]

@Brittster I need to look into the texlax thing. I thought texturizers were relaxers so I always skipped over that idea.

Being natural has been alright for me, nothing spectacular, but I dont like the whole pressing and straightening and the hair not reverting back to its old curly state. Oh well, lots to think about.

@Smiey79, texturizers are relaxers. They are usually milder or left on for a less timer to deterimine how straight you'd like your hair. If you have a curl or wave pattern, you can texlax your hair and still wear wash n goes.

 

[Smiley79]

Thanks for the info.